08:54 AM, 19-Jan-2023
Wrestlers Protest: Wrestling Association will have to answer in 72 hours
The Union Sports Ministry has sought an explanation from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on the matter. The wrestling association has been directed to respond to the allegations made by the wrestlers within the next 72 hours.
08:51 AM, 19-Jan-2023
Wrestlers Protest: Camp of women players canceled
The Women’s National Wrestling Training Camp has been cancelled. The camp was to begin on January 18 at the Sports Authority of India’s National Center of Excellence in Lucknow and was to be attended by 41 wrestlers and several support staff including 13 coaches.
08:34 AM, 19-Jan-2023
Wrestlers Protest: What happened so far?
On Wednesday morning suddenly 30 Indian wrestlers went to Jantar Mantar in Delhi and sat on a dharna. Big wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik were also included in these wrestlers. The wrestlers accused Indian Wrestling Association and Association President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of arbitrariness and asked to present their side in the evening. Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary of Wrestling Federation Vinod Tomar also met the protesting wrestlers. He said that if the wrestlers come to the union, all their problems will be resolved, but the wrestlers continued to sit on dharna.
In the press conference in the evening, Bajrang Punia said that the people sitting in the Sangh are doing arbitrariness. They don’t know anything about sports. We are not given coaches and threatened for protesting. At the same time, Vinesh Phogat accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and his favorite people in the Sangh of sexual exploitation. Vinesh said that Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has sexually exploited many girls. Their loved ones also exploit girls. Apart from girls, male coaches also exploit female coaches.
There was a ruckus after these allegations of Vinesh. Delhi Women’s Commission Chairperson Swati Maliwal also met the players and demanded the arrest of Brij Bhushan Singh. At the same time, Brij Bhushan Singh said that all the allegations are baseless. 97 percent of the wrestlers are with the union. If these allegations are proved to be true then he will sit on dharna. He also alleged that the wrestlers who are sitting on dharna do not want to give trial. However, the wrestlers continued to perform.
Now the Sports Ministry has sought an answer from the Wrestling Federation of India. At the same time, the camp for women wrestlers which was to start in Lucknow from January 18 has also been cancelled.
Who is Brij Bhushan?
Brij Bhushan, who came into politics from the Ram Mandir movement, is one of the big leaders of Uttar Pradesh. He has been an MP for six consecutive terms. He is currently a BJP MP from Kaisganj seat in Gonda district. Brij Bhushan is the president of the wrestling association as of 2011. In 2019, he won the election for the third consecutive time on this post.
08:29 AM, 19-Jan-2023
Wrestlers Protest: Sports Ministry seeks response from Wrestling Federation on allegations of wrestlers, camp for women players canceled
30 Indian wrestlers are sitting on a dharna at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Many big medal winners are also included in these. The protesting wrestlers have accused Indian Hockey Association president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment. However, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has rejected these allegations outright. Now the Sports Ministry has also taken action in this matter and has sought an answer from the Wrestling Federation of India.